Humidifying apparatus



arch 24, 1936. A. BROWNE 2,034,743

HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 Fig.3 1.

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INVENTOR.

, ATTORNEYS arch 24, 1936. A. 1 BROWNE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1953 INVENTOR.

IMIMM A TTORNEYS' Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Alfred L. Browne, South Orange,v N. J.

Application June 27, 1933, Serial No. 677,813

3 Claims. (01. 237- 78) This invention relates to humidifiers. More screwed into the bottom nipple port. The hub specifically, the invention relates to humidifying 9 is drilled to receive the open end of a tube ll devices for use in connection with hot-water or of copper, brass, or other metal having high heat steam heating systems. conductivity. The open end of the tube is sol- 5 One of the objects of the invention is to provide dered or otherwise suitably secured within the bore 5 a comparatively small humidifying device which, of the hub 9 and the tube I l is sealed at its other when attached to a radiator, will generate and end by a cap 8soldered or otherwise suitably sesupply a large quantity of water vapor. cured thereto. It will be seen that the tube ll Another object is to provide a humidifying dewill be inside the radiator when the hub 9 has 10 vice that directs its discharged water vapor into beeen screwed into the nipple port as described 10,

the hot .air stream passing through or from a above. The tube II, when supplied with water, radiator so that objectionable condensation of serves as an evaporating tube, receiving heat from the water vapor is prevented. the hot fluid within the radiatior and thereby Another object is to provide a humidifying deevaporating water within the tube. The tube ll vice in which the quantity of liquid evaporated receives water from the casing I0 and discharges 15 may be readily controlled at will. vapor into the casing Ill. The means for supply- Other objects and advantages will appear as ing water to the casing II] will presently be dethe invention is hereinafter disclosed. scribed.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate The vapor, as stated, passes from the tube II what Inow consider to be preferred embodiments into the casing Ill. The casing I0 is provided 2 of the invention: with a cover or lid I2 having a spout l4 through Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of the outer open end. of which the vapor is dismy humidifier particularly adapted to be supcharged. The spout l4 directs the discharged plied with Water from the usual water main. water vapor into the high velocity heated air Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a part of stream which passes upwardly from the radiator. 25 the control mechanism shown in Fig. 1. If the humidifier is connected to the bottom nip- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevap-le port of a radiator the spout I4 is so shaped tion, partly in section, of another part of the conor bent as to direct the discharged water vapor trol mechanism shown in Fig. 1. into the hot air stream passing upwardly through so Fig. 3a. is a top plan view of the tube or pipe the radiator. In either case, by directing the v ll shown in Fig. 3. water vapor discharge into the hot air stream, Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the part shown in objectionable condensation of the water vapor Fig. 2. upon the windows, window-frames, walls, cur- Fig. 5 is a. sectional elevation of an automatic tains, etc. is prevented. water-supply valve which may be used in connec- Water is. supplied to the casing l0 (Fig. 1) 35 tion with the humidifier shown in Fig. 1.. through a supply pipe H! which passes through,

Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating and is solderedor otherwise suitably secured to, amodified form of the humidifier adapted to be the bottom of the casing l0. One end of the pipe employed when it is not desired to supply water I8 is inside the casing l0 and the other end is thereto from a water main as in Fig. 1. connected to the nearest available water supply 40 Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line pipe (not shown). 1-! of Fig. 6. I provide means for automatically maintaining Fig. 8' is .an enlarged detail sectional elevation the waterwithin the casing l0, and consequently of a part of the control mechanism shown in hat With n the evaporating tube ll, at a desired Fig. 6. level, which level may be selected or adjusted at 45 The humidifier shown in Fig. 1 comprises a, caswill. For these purposes the humidifier is shown ing lll'having an externally threaded hub 9 adaptp d W a drain p p Which terminates ed to be screwed into the top nipple port or the at its upper end within the casing l0, passes bottom nipple port of an end section of a radiator, through the bottom of the casing, being soldered of a, type commonly used in heating dwellings or or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and dis- 50 other buildings, after the customary plug has charges at its lower end into the nearest sink been removed. If the radiator (not shown) is of or sewer drain. The upper end of the drain pipe the hot-water type, the hub 9 is preferably I7 is provided with a vertical slot lls (see Fig. 3) screwedinto the top nipple port and if the radicut through its wall. A cap or sleeve I6 suratoris-of the steam type, the hub 9 is preferably rounds and snugly fits the slotted upper end of 55 the drain pipe. The sleeve I6 (see Fig. 2) is provided with a diagonally extending or curved slot I 6s cut through its wall and adapted to cooperate with the slot I'Is of the pipe H to control the level of the water in the casing I0 according to the relative angular positions of the pipe I! and sleeve I6; If the sleeve {6 is in such position with respect to the pipe I! that the upper ends of the slots I55 and Us are in register, the water level in the casing I0 will be maintained com-- paratively high, whereas if the sleeve I6 is r'o tated on the pipe I! so as to cause the bottom ends of the slots His and Us to register, the water level will be maintained comparatively low. Intermediate these two positions of relative adjustments the slots I53 and Ms may be caused to register at difierent desired points so that the water level is controllable by rotating the sleeve I6 about the pipe IT. The top or cap portion of the sleeve I 6 is provided with holes I6h (see Fig. 4) through which water may fiow from the casing I0 into the drain pipe II, so that in the event that the slots His and I'Is are not in register at all, or the water level tends to rise above the top of the sleeve I0, the Water would then exit from the casing I0 through the holes IGh and be prevented from rising further. It will be understood of course that the parts are so designed and the supply of water through the supply pipe I8 is so controlled, as by means of a needle valve or the like (not, shown) therein, that the rate of water supply will not exceed the capacity of the drain pipe I1 and its appurtenances to carry the surplus water ofi.

Means are provided for turning the sleeve I6 about the pipe I1 and thereby controlling or adjusting the water level within the casing I0 and evaporator tube I I. These means comprise a rod I5 which is square in cross-section and which extends at its lower end through a square hole (see Fig. 4) I571. in the cap or upper part of the sleeve I6 and which is journalled for rotation in, but restrained against axial longitudinal movement with respect to, the lid or cover I2 of the casing I0. The outer or upper end of the rod I5 has secured thereto a knurled knob I3 by which it may be turned. and thereby turn the sleeve IS on the pipe H.

To improve the sightliness of the humidifier, the otherwise exposed parts of the supply pipe I8 and the drain pipe I! may be concealed by a tube I9, the upper end of which fits the bottom of the casing I0 as shown, and the lower end of which terminates at the floor.

By controlling or adjusting the water level within the casing I0 and the evaporating tube II, as above described, the amount of water vapor generated at any given temperature to which the tube II is subjected, maybe controlled or selectively adjusted.

The capacity of the humidifier is determined by the diameter and length of the evaporating tube II. The length of the tube II is determined by the number of sections in the particular radiator to which the humidifier is applied. The diameter of the evaporating tube II is determined by the size of the nipple port in the particular radiator to which the humidifier is applied. The capacity of the device may be accurately expressed in water vapor evaporated per hour, in unit lengths and diameters of evaporating tube II, per pounds of steam available, or temperature of water surrounding the tube I I.

In Fig. 5 I have shown an automatic thermostatic valve which may be inserted in the supply pipe I8 between the humidifier and the source-f of water supply, for automatically shutting oft the supply of water to the humidifier whic the radiator, or other device to which the humidifier is connected, is cold. In this way waste of water may be prevented. The device shown in Fig.- 5; comprises a casing 20 provided with a strap 21- by which the casing is secured to the nearest bare pipe that supplies steam or other heating fluid to the radiator to which the particular humidifier is applied. When the steam or other heating fluid is cut off from the radiator, the pipe to which the casing 20 is secured becomes cold and its contained thermostat closes a valve in the water supply line I8. The thermostat 2| is secured to the detachable bottom 24 of the casing 20' and to the lower end of the valve stem or rod 22. The upper end of the valve stem 22 is provided with a valve head 23 which cooperates with a valve seat in the partition or septum of- H the casing 20 between the water inlet and outlet ports. A packing gland nut 25 serves to impede entrance of water into the chamber of the casing 20 containing the thermostat. While it is intended that no water shall enter the last mentioned chamber, nevertheless the wall of the casing 20 is provided with a water escape or drain orifice 26 so that any water passing through the gland nut will not accumulate within the charm ber surrounding the thermostat. It is important that the thermostat shall not be surrounded by water as the exertion of water pressure upon the thermostat would upset the balance or setting of the thermostat.

When the pipe upon which the casing 20 is mounted, by means of the strap 21, becomes cold. the thermostat 2| closes the valve 23 and thereby shuts off the supply of water to the humidifier. When the pipe upon which the casing 20 is mounted becomes hot, the thermostat 2| opens the valve 23 and permits flow of water throughthe supply pipe I8 to the humidifier.

In Fig. 6 the parts I08, I09, III, H2, H4, correspond respectively to the parts 8, 9, II, I2, I4, in Fig. 1 and need not be further described. It will be noted that the lid or cover I I2 is provided with a knob I I3 by which it may be lifted from the casing H0.

The casing H0 diiTers in certain respects from the casing I0 of Fig. 1. The casing H0 has a septum or web I2I that provides the main chamber having the lid I I2 and a supplemental cylindrical chamber H5, which two chambers communicate through the channel I 50 below the web A jar or water reservoir H1 is provided at its lower end with a screw threaded sleeve I 20 which has an annular shoulder for causing the closure I60 to be gripped firmly against the edge of the mouth of the jar to seal it, a compressible washer or gasket I10 being provided to make the seal efiective. The lower end of the sleeve I20 is received by a cylindrical opening provided in the upper end of the chamber II 5. A tube I I9 extends from within the jar I I I through the closure I60 and into the chamber H5, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6. The tube I I9 is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to closure I60 so as to prevent escape of water around the tube. A second tube H8 likewise passes through the closure I60 and is likewise secured thereto. The tube H8 is, in efiect, extensible as by means of a telescoping portion H811; a gland nut 200 and packing 20I being provided at the upper end or" the tubular portion I I8a so as to permit relative sliding movement of the tube sections H8, II 8a while maintaining an air tight joint. An. air inlet port II5a. is provided in the wall of the chamber.

In operation, the casing III] and tube III are filled with water to about the desired level. The jar II! is removed and is filled with water and the parts I20 and I60 screwed in place on the jar. The jar is then inverted and the lower end of the sleeve inserted into the chamber I I5 (see Fig. 6). When the water level falls, due to evaporation, below the lower end of the tube II8a, air enters the latter and passes upwardly into the jar II'I, thereby permitting water to flow from the jar II'I, through the tube H9, into the chamber H5, until the water level rises suificiently to seal the lower end of the tube II8a, at which time fiow of water from the jar III ceases. In this manner the water level is automatically maintained in the casing H and evaporating tube III (so long as there is water within the jar III) at a height fixed by the lower end of the tube II8a. By sliding the tube I I80. on the tube I I8, the position at which the water level shall be automatically maintained in the tube III and easing IIIl, may be adjusted.

The septum I 2I and constricted construction of the casing IIll (see Fig. 7) serve to prevent the water in the cylindrical chamber I I from heating and boiling due to steam present in the other portion of the casing I I0.

While the humidifiers herein disclosed are primarily designed for radiators using steam, it may be employed also in closed hot water systems in which the temperature of the water is 212 F. or more. Also, while the humidifiers are particularly adapted to be inserted into radiators, i. e. with the evaporating tube II or III inserted into a radiator, they may also be employed in combination with pipes that convey heating fluid, tanks containing heating fluid, etc.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted and some of the features of each modification tend horizontally into a radiator when the casing is connected to the latter, the said evaporating tube being sealed with respect to a steam radiator when inserted therein, and said casing having a port for discharging vapor to atmosphere, and means for maintaining the liquid within the evaporating tube at a desired predetermined level below the top of said tube.

2. A humidifier comprising in combination, a casing having a portion for insertion into an opening of a steam radiator, and an evaporating tube secured to said casing to receive therefrom liquid to be evaporated and to discharge vapor so produced into said casing, the said evaporating tube being connected to said casing so as to extend horizontally into a radiator when the casing is connected to the latter, the said evaporating tube being sealed with respect to a steam radiator when inserted therein, and said casing having a port for discharging vapor to atmosphere, and adjustable means for maintaining the liquid within the evaporating tube at a desired predetermined level below the top of said tube.

3. A humidifier comprising in combination, a casing having a portion for insertion into an opening of a steam radiator, and an evaporating tube secured to said casing to receive therefrom liquid to be evaporated and to discharge vapor so produced into said casing, the said evaporating tube being connected to said casing so as to extend horizontally intoa radiator when the casing is connected to the latter, the said evaporating tube being sealed with respect to a steam radiator when inserted therein, and said casing having a port for discharging vapor to atmosphere, means for connecting the casing to a fixed supply of water, and automatic means provided to feed water from said fixed supply of 

